Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but

Hear, O children of wisdom, the solemn and noble words of DeWitt Clinton, statesman of America’s early years, who declared: “Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space and indefinite in duration.” These words are not the empty musings of a politician, but the distilled wisdom of one who weighed the treasures of life and found all but one wanting. In them is a call to turn away from fleeting illusions and to grasp instead that which endures beyond the grave.

The origin of this utterance lies in Clinton’s life as both governor and builder. He championed the Erie Canal, a work of vision that transformed a nation. Yet he understood that canals, offices, and wealth pass away, while knowledge—the fruit of learning, reflection, and truth—endures. In his declaration, he placed pleasure, wealth, and power in their true stations: temporary, deceptive, passing like mist. Only knowledge, he proclaimed, is eternal in its joy, boundless in its reach, and immortal in its gift.

Consider, O listener, the story of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome. Surrounded by power, hailed as ruler of the known world, he confessed in his Meditations that emperorship was but a pageant, fleeting and fragile. He saw pleasure as a shadow that slipped through the hands, and wealth as vanity that could not satisfy the soul. But in knowledge, in the cultivation of wisdom, he found peace. His words remain alive though his empire has fallen, proving Clinton’s truth: it is knowledge that endures when shadow, vanity, and pageantry vanish.

Or recall the tale of Socrates. Offered the chance to escape death by wielding influence, by bending to power, or by securing comfort, he refused. He drank the cup of hemlock, for he believed that the pursuit of knowledge—knowing what is just, what is true—was worth more than life itself. Pleasure would have betrayed him, wealth could not save him, power could not preserve him. But his devotion to wisdom outlasted his death, echoing across centuries. Here again, Clinton’s words shine with clarity.

Thus we see: pleasure is but a passing sweetness, like morning dew that vanishes with the sun. Wealth is vanity, a glittering idol that deceives its worshippers, leaving them empty. Power is a pageant, a parade that dazzles for a moment but fades into dust. But knowledge—the understanding of truth, the grasp of beauty, the insight into justice—this alone is “ecstatic in enjoyment,” bringing joy not bound to circumstance. It is “perennial in frame,” evergreen through all seasons of life. It is “unlimited in space,” crossing cultures and nations. It is “indefinite in duration,” living beyond death, carried forward through generations.

The lesson is clear: if you would live a life of substance, pursue knowledge. Seek it not for vanity, nor for the applause of others, but for the joy it brings, the freedom it grants, the immortality it offers. Let not your heart be ensnared by the shadow of pleasure, nor by the vanity of riches, nor by the gaudy show of power. Instead, let your soul be nourished by truth, for this is the treasure no thief can steal, no moth can corrupt, no time can wither.

Practical action lies before you. Read daily, not only for work, but for the expansion of your soul. Reflect upon your experiences, turning life itself into a book of wisdom. Share what you learn, for knowledge multiplies when given. Measure your success not by wealth amassed, nor by power gained, but by truth understood and wisdom lived. In this way, you shall taste the ecstasy of knowledge, a joy that outlives the fleeting pleasures of the world.

So let DeWitt Clinton’s words echo in your heart: pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, power is a pageant, but knowledge endures. Choose therefore the path of wisdom, and your life shall not be a passing spectacle, but a living legacy, eternal in joy, boundless in scope, and enduring beyond time itself.